Electronic device

ABSTRACT

An electronic device, including a host, a main display, an auxiliary display, and a lifting mechanism, is provided. The main display is pivoted to the host. The auxiliary display is disposed on the host. The lifting mechanism is disposed between the auxiliary display and the host. The lifting mechanism is configured to lift the auxiliary display and maintain a lifting height of the auxiliary display.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION

This application is a continuation application of and claims thepriority benefit of U.S. application Ser. No. 17/180,883, filed on Feb.22, 2021, now allowed, which claims the priority benefit of Taiwanpatent application Ser. No. 109208419, filed on Jul. 2, 2020. Theentirety of each of the above-mentioned patent applications is herebyincorporated by reference herein and made a part of this specification.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention

The disclosure relates to an electronic device, and in particular, to anelectronic device including a main display and an auxiliary display.

2. Description of Related Art

Notebook computers have become indispensable tools for modern people dueto features of multi-task processing, high computing efficiency, andbeing easy to carry, and the like. Generally, a notebook computerincludes a host and a display, where the display is pivoted to the host,and a keyboard is integrated on the host.

To improve operation flexibility of a user, a notebook computer in whichan auxiliary display is integrated on the host has been proposed atpresent. Specifically, the auxiliary display and the keyboard arelocated in the same working plane, and the auxiliary display and thekeyboard are disposed in parallel. Because the angle and the height ofmost auxiliary displays cannot be adjusted, the auxiliary display isinconvenient to operate for a user, and eyestrain is easily caused. Inaddition, although an auxiliary display with the adjustable angle andheight has been proposed, a lifting mechanism of the auxiliary displayis linked to an unfolding mechanism of the main display, and individualand independent operation cannot be performed, lacking operationflexibility.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The disclosure provides an electronic device, which has excellentoperation flexibility.

The disclosure provides an electronic device, including a host, a maindisplay, an auxiliary display, and a lifting mechanism. The main displayis pivoted to the host, and the auxiliary display is disposed on thehost. The lifting mechanism is disposed between the auxiliary displayand the host, and the auxiliary display is connected to the host throughthe lifting mechanism. The lifting mechanism includes a first bracket, adriving member, a first spring, a second spring, a positioning member, asecond bracket, and a third bracket. The first bracket is fixed to thehost. The driving member is slidably disposed on the host. Two ends ofthe first spring are respectively in contact with the first bracket andthe driving member. The second spring is disposed in the positioningportion. The positioning member is slidably disposed on the drivingmember, and two ends of the positioning member are respectively incontact with the second spring and the first bracket. Two ends of thesecond bracket are respectively pivoted to the first bracket and fixedto the auxiliary display. Two ends of the third bracket are respectivelypivoted to the positioning member and the second bracket.

Based on the foregoing, the electronic device of the disclosureintegrates the auxiliary display, where the angle and the height of theauxiliary display are adjustable, to help a user operate the auxiliarydisplay, and improve comfort of the user watching the auxiliary display.In addition, a lifting mechanism of the auxiliary display is not linkedto an unfolding mechanism of the main display. That is, the liftingmechanism of the auxiliary display and the unfolding mechanism of themain display run individually and independently. After the main displayis unfolded relative to the host, the user actuates the liftingmechanism of the auxiliary display according to personal requirements,to drive, through the lifting mechanism, the auxiliary display to rotateand lift relative to the host. Therefore, the electronic device hasexcellent operation flexibility.

To make the foregoing features and advantages of the disclosure moreapparent and easier to understand, the following provides a detaileddescription by listing embodiments with reference to the accompanyingdrawings.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a schematic top view of an electronic device according to anembodiment of the disclosure.

FIG. 2 is a schematic partial side view of an electronic deviceaccording to an embodiment of the disclosure.

FIG. 3 is a schematic partial side view after an auxiliary display ofFIG. 2 is lifted.

FIG. 4A and FIG. 4B are schematic diagrams of a lifting mechanism beforeand after actuation according to an embodiment of the disclosure.

FIG. 4C is a schematic top view of the lifting mechanism of FIG. 4A.

FIG. 4D is a schematic top view of the lifting mechanism of FIG. 4B.

DESCRIPTION OF THE EMBODIMENTS

FIG. 1 is a schematic top view of an electronic device according to anembodiment of the disclosure. FIG. 2 is a schematic partial side view ofan electronic device according to an embodiment of the disclosure. FIG.3 is a schematic partial side view after an auxiliary display of FIG. 2is lifted. Referring to FIG. 1 and FIG. 2 , in this embodiment, theelectronic device 100 may be a notebook computer, and includes a host110, a main display 120, an auxiliary display 130, a lifting mechanism140, and a keyboard 150. The host 110 is configured to perform functionssuch as logic operation, signal control, and data access, and the hostdisplay 120 is electrically connected to the host 110. The main display120 is configured to display a main picture, and is pivoted to the host110, to switch between an unfolded state and a closed state. Therefore,an unfolded angle of the main display 120 relative to the host 110 isadjustable.

The auxiliary display 130 and the keyboard 150 are electricallyconnected to the host 110, and are disposed on the host 110 in parallel.The auxiliary display 130 is configured to display an auxiliary picture,and has a touch function, thereby helping improve operation convenienceand flexibility of the electronic device 100. The keypad 150 serves asan entity input interface, for a user to input information to the host110 or operate the host 110. The lifting mechanism 140 is disposedbetween the auxiliary display 130 and the host 110, and the auxiliarydisplay 130 is connected to the host 110 through the lifting mechanism140.

In the state shown in FIG. 2 , the auxiliary display 130 is not liftedyet, and is accommodated in a groove of the host 110. In the state shownin FIG. 3 , the lifting mechanism 140 drives the auxiliary display 130to rotate and lift relative to the host 110, to adjust the angle and theheight of the auxiliary display 130. This not only helps the useroperate the auxiliary display 130, but also improves comfort of the userviewing the auxiliary display 130. After the auxiliary display 130 islifted, the lifting mechanism 140 may be configured to maintain alifting height of the auxiliary display 130, to improve the reliabilityof the user operating the auxiliary display 130.

In this embodiment, the lifting mechanism of the auxiliary display 130is not linked to an unfolding mechanism of the main display 120. Thatis, the lifting mechanism of the auxiliary display 130 and the unfoldingmechanism of the main display 120 run individually and independently.After the main display 120 is unfolded relative to the host 110, theuser may actuate the lifting mechanism 140 according to personalrequirements, to drive, through the lifting mechanism 140, the auxiliarydisplay 130 to rotate and lift relative to the host 110. Therefore, theelectronic device 100 has excellent operation flexibility.

Referring to FIG. 1 to FIG. 3 , in this embodiment, the auxiliarydisplay 130 includes a pivoting end 131 close to the keyboard 150 and alifting end 132 far from the keyboard 150, where the lifting mechanism140 is disposed corresponding to the pivoting end 131, and is locatedbetween the pivoting end 131 and the host 110. On the other hand, theelectronic device 100 further includes a push-push mechanism 160, andthe push-push mechanism 160 is disposed between the lifting end 132 andthe host 110. As shown in FIG. 2 , the push-push mechanism 160 locks thelifting end 132 on the host 110, and therefore, the lifting mechanism140 is not temporarily actuated. When the user presses the lifting end132 to actuate the push-push mechanism 160, a locking relationshipbetween the lifting end 132 and the host 110 is removed. Once thelocking relationship between the lifting end 132 and the host 110 isremoved, the lifting mechanism 140 is immediately actuated and drivesthe pivoting end 131, to lift the lifting end 132, as shown in FIG. 3 .

FIG. 4A and FIG. 4B are schematic diagrams of a lifting mechanism beforeand after actuation according to an embodiment of the disclosure. FIG.4C is a schematic top view of the lifting mechanism of FIG. 4A. FIG. 4Dis a schematic top view of the lifting mechanism of FIG. 4B. Referringto FIG. 2 , FIG. 3 , FIG. 4A, and FIG. 4B, in this embodiment, thelifting mechanism 140 is composed of at least a first bracket 141, asecond bracket 142, and a third bracket 143, and the first bracket 141,the second bracket 142, and the third bracket 143 constitute a linkagegroup. The first bracket 141 is fixed to the host 110. The secondbracket 142 is pivoted to the first bracket 141 and the third bracket143, and is in contact with the pivoting end 131 of the auxiliarydisplay 130. The third bracket 143 is slidably connected to and pivotedto the first bracket 141. When the third bracket 143 rotates and slidesrelative to the first bracket 141, the second bracket 142 is driven bythe third bracket 143 to rotate relative to the first bracket 141, tolift or sink. In addition, the auxiliary display 130 is driven by thesecond bracket 142 to rotate relative to the host 110, to lift or sink.

Referring to FIG. 4A to FIG. 4D, the lifting mechanism 140 furtherincludes a first spring 144, and the first spring 144 may use acompression spring. As shown in FIG. 3 , the first spring 144 may beconfigured to provide power required by the second bracket 142 and thethird bracket 143 during motion, and provide power required by theauxiliary display 130 during lifting. As shown in FIG. 2 , FIG. 4A, andFIG. 4C, when the auxiliary display 130 is locked on the host 110, thefirst spring 144 is compressed. As shown in FIG. 3 , FIG. 4B, and FIG.4D, when the locking relationship between the auxiliary display 130 andthe host 110 is removed, an elastic force of the first spring 144 pushesthe third bracket 143, and the second bracket 142 is driven by the thirdbracket 143 to lift the auxiliary display 130.

As shown in FIG. 3 . FIG. 4A, and FIG. 4B, after the third bracket 143slides to a position, the third bracket 143 is engaged with the firstbracket 141, to maintain a lifting state or a lifting height of thesecond bracket 142 and the auxiliary display 130, thereby preventing theauxiliary display 130 from shaking or sinking due to a force applied tothe auxiliary display 130 by the user, and therefore, the auxiliarydisplay has the excellent operation reliability.

Referring to FIG. 2 , FIG. 4A, and FIG. 4C, in this embodiment, thefirst bracket 141 includes a first connecting portion 141 a and a secondconnecting portion 141 b relative to the first connecting portion 141 a,where the second bracket 142 is pivoted to the first connecting portion141 a, and the third bracket 143 is slidably connected to and pivoted tothe second connecting portion 141 b.

The second bracket 142 includes a third connecting portion 142 a, afourth connecting portion 142 b relative to the third connecting portion142 a, and a fixed connecting portion 142 c connected to the fourthconnecting portion 142 b, where the third connecting portion 142 a ispivoted to the first connecting portion 141 a of the first bracket 141,and the fourth connecting portion 142 b is pivoted to the third bracket143. The fixed connecting portion 142 c of the second bracket 142 isfixed to the pivoting end 131 of the auxiliary display 130, so that theauxiliary display 130 is suitable for being driven by the second bracket142 to lift or sink. On the other hand, the second bracket 143 includesa fifth connecting portion 143 a and a sixth connecting portion 143 brelative to the fifth connecting portion 143 a, where the fifthconnecting portion 143 a is pivoted to and slidably connected to thesecond connecting portion 141 b of the first bracket 141, and the sixthconnecting portion 143 b is pivoted to the fourth connecting portion 142b of the second bracket 142.

As shown in FIG. 2 . FIG. 4A, and FIG. 4C, the lifting mechanism 140further includes a driving member 145, a second spring 146, and apositioning member 147, where the driving member 145 is slidablydisposed on the host 110, and two ends of the first spring 144 are incontact with the first bracket 141 and the driving member 145respectively. Specifically, the driving member 145 is suitable fortransferring the elastic force of the first spring 144 to the thirdbracket 143, so that the third bracket 143 drives the second bracket 142and the auxiliary display 130 to lift.

In this embodiment, the driving member 145 includes a driving portion145 a and a positioning portion 145 b connected to the driving portion145 a, where the two ends of the first spring 144 are in contact withthe first connecting portion 141 a and the driving portion 145 arespectively, and the driving portion 145 a is provided with a groove145 c, configured to accommodate a part of the first spring 144. Forexample, one end of the first spring 144 is in contact with a bottomsurface of the groove 145 c. On the other hand, the first bracket 141further includes a convex column 141 c protruding from the firstconnecting portion 141 a, where the convex column 141 c is inserted intothe groove 145 c of the driving portion 145 a, and the first spring 144is sleeved on the convex column 141 c, to prevent the first spring 144from being twisted and transformed or separated from between the firstconnecting portion 141 a and the driving portion 145 a.

Referring to FIG. 4A to FIG. 4C, the second spring 146 is disposed inthe positioning portion 145 b, and is perpendicular to the first spring144. The second spring 146 may use the compression spring. Thepositioning member 147 is slidably disposed on the positioning portion145 b, and two ends of the positioning member 147 are in contact withthe second spring 146 and the second connecting portion 141 brespectively. Further, the positioning member 147 is in slidable contactwith the second connecting portion 141 b, and the second spring 146provides a corresponding elastic force to the positioning member 147, toensure that the positioning member 147 abuts against the secondconnecting portion 141 b. On the other hand, the fifth connectingportion 143 a of the third bracket 143 is pivoted to the positioningmember 147, and is slidably connected to the second connecting portion141 b through the positioning member 147. Therefore, the third bracket143 has a degree of freedom of motion of sliding and rotating relativeto the second connecting portion 141 b of the first bracket 141.

Referring to FIG. 4C and FIG. 4D, the positioning portion 145 b isprovided with a groove 145 d and a through hole 145 e connected to thegroove 145 d, and the second spring 146 is disposed in the groove 145 d.On the other hand, the positioning member 147 includes a limitingportion 147 a, a positioning convex portion 147 b connected to thelimiting portion 147 a, and a convex column 147 c connected to thelimiting portion 147 a, where the limiting portion 147 a is slidablydisposed in the groove 145 d and is in contact with the second spring146. The positioning convex portion 147 b passes through the throughhole 145 e, where the positioning convex portion 147 b is in slidablecontact with the second connecting portion 141 b, and the fifthconnecting portion 143 a of the third bracket 143 is pivoted to thepositioning convex portion 147 b.

Based on a change of a contact point position of the positioning convexportion 147 b on the second connecting portion 141 b, a length of a partprotruding from the through hole 145 e of the positioning convex portion147 changes accordingly, and a position of the limiting portion 147 a inthe groove 145 d changes accordingly, to jointly change a compressionamount or a length of the second spring 146.

On the other hand, the limiting portion 147 a is located between theconvex column 147 c and the positioning convex portion 147 b, where theconvex column 147 c is located in the groove 145 d, and the secondspring 146 is sleeved on the convex column 147 c, to prevent the secondspring 146 from being twisted and transformed or separated from thepositioning member 147. Specifically, the second connecting portion 141b is provided with a sliding slot 141 d and a positioning hole 141 econnected to the sliding slot 141 d, and compared with the positioninghole 141 e, the sliding slot 141 d is closer to the first connectingportion 141 a. That is, the sliding slot 141 d is located between thefirst connecting portion 141 a and the positioning hole 141 e.

As shown in FIG. 4C and FIG. 4D, the positioning convex portion 147 b ofthe positioning member 147 is slidably disposed in the sliding slot 141d, and the second spring 146 is compressed. When the first spring 144pushes the driving member 145, the positioning member 147 slidessynchronously with the driving member 145, so that the positioningconvex portion 147 b moves from the sliding slot 141 d to thepositioning hole 141 e, and the elastic force of the second spring 146pushes the positioning member 147, so that the positioning convexportion 147 b is inserted into the positioning hole 141 e. In this case,as shown in FIG. 3 and FIG. 4B, the third bracket 143 is engaged withthe first bracket 141, to maintain the lifting state or the liftingheight of the second bracket 142 and the auxiliary display 130.

Referring to FIG. 4A to FIG. 4D, when the first spring 144 pushes thedriving member 145, the positioning member 147 slides synchronously withthe driving member 145, and the fifth connecting portion 143 a of thethird bracket 143 slides synchronously with the positioning member 147.On the other hand, as shown in FIG. 3 , the third bracket 143 rotatesrelative to the positioning member 147, and drives the second bracket142 through the sixth connecting portion 143 b, so that the secondbracket 142 rotates relative to the first bracket 141, to lift theauxiliary display 130.

Based on the foregoing, the electronic device of the disclosureintegrates the auxiliary display, where the angle and the height of theauxiliary display are adjustable, to help the user operate the auxiliarydisplay, and improve the comfort of the user watching the auxiliarydisplay. In addition, a lifting mechanism of the auxiliary display isnot linked to an unfolding mechanism of the main display. That is, thelifting mechanism of the auxiliary display and the unfolding mechanismof the main display run individually and independently. After the maindisplay is unfolded relative to the host, the user may press theauxiliary display according to personal requirements, to actuate thepush-push mechanism and remove the locking relationship between theauxiliary display and the main display. Once the locking relationshipbetween the auxiliary display and the host is removed, the liftingmechanism immediately drives the auxiliary display to rotate and liftrelative to the host. Therefore, the electronic device has the excellentoperation flexibility.

Although the disclosure has been described above through theembodiments, the embodiments are not intended to limit the disclosure. Aperson of ordinary skill in any art may make some modifications andimprovements without departing from the spirit and the scope of thedisclosure. Therefore, the protection scope of the disclosure should besubject to the protection scope of the appended claims.

What is claimed is:
 1. An electronic device, comprising: a host; a maindisplay, pivoted to the host; an auxiliary display, disposed on thehost; and a lifting mechanism, disposed between the auxiliary displayand the host, wherein the auxiliary display is connected to the hostthrough the lifting mechanism, and the lifting mechanism comprises: afirst bracket, fixed to the host; a driving member, slidably disposed onthe host; a first spring, wherein two ends of the first spring arerespectively in contact with the first bracket and the driving member; asecond spring, disposed in the driving member; a positioning member,slidably disposed on the driving member, wherein two ends of thepositioning member are respectively in contact with the second springand the first bracket; a second bracket, wherein two ends of the secondbracket are respectively pivoted to the first bracket and fixed to theauxiliary display; and a third bracket, wherein two ends of thirdbracket are respectively pivoted to the positioning member and thesecond bracket.
 2. The electronic device according to claim 1, whereinthe first bracket is provided with a sliding slot, the positioningmember comprises a positioning convex portion, the positioning convexportion is slidably disposed on the sliding slot, and the third bracketis pivoted to the positioning convex portion.
 3. The electronic deviceaccording to claim 2, wherein the first bracket is further provided witha positioning hole connected to the sliding slot, the first spring isconfigured to push the driving member, and the positioning member slidessynchronously with the driving member, so that the positioning convexportion moves from the sliding slot to the positioning hole while thepositioning member is pushed by the second spring, so that thepositioning convex portion is inserted into the positioning hole.
 4. Theelectronic device according to claim 1, wherein the first spring isconfigured to push the driving member, the positioning member slidessynchronously with the driving member while the third bracket rotatesrelative to the positioning member and drives the second bracket torotate relative to the first bracket to lift the auxiliary display. 5.The electronic device according to claim 1, wherein the driving memberis provided with a groove, and a part of the first spring is located inthe groove.
 6. The electronic device according to claim 5, wherein thefirst bracket further comprises a convex column, the convex column isinserted into the groove, and the first spring is sleeved on the convexcolumn.
 7. The electronic device according to claim 1, wherein thedriving member is provided with a groove and a through hole connected tothe groove, the second spring is disposed in the groove, and thepositioning member comprises a limiting portion and a positioning convexportion connected to the limiting portion, wherein the limiting portionis slidably disposed in the groove and is in contact with the secondspring, and the positioning convex portion passes through the throughhole and is in slidable contact with the first bracket.
 8. Theelectronic device according to claim 7, wherein the positioning memberfurther comprises a convex column connected to the limiting portion, thelimiting portion is located between the positioning convex portion andthe convex column, and the second spring is sleeved on the convexcolumn.
 9. The electronic device according to claim 1, furthercomprising a keyboard disposed on the host, wherein the keyboard isparallel to the auxiliary display, the auxiliary display comprises apivoting end close to the keyboard and a lifting end far from thekeyboard, and the second bracket is fixed to the pivoting end.
 10. Theelectronic device according to claim 9, further comprising a push-pushmechanism, wherein the push-push mechanism is disposed between thelifting end and the host.
 11. The electronic device according to claim1, wherein the second spring is perpendicular to the first spring. 12.An electronic device, comprising: a host; a main display, pivoted to thehost; an auxiliary display, disposed on the host and locked on the host;and a lifting mechanism, disposed between the auxiliary display and thehost, wherein the auxiliary display is connected to the host through thelifting mechanism, and the lifting mechanism comprises: a first bracket,fixed to the host; a driving member, slidably disposed on the host; apositioning member, slidably disposed on the driving member and incontact with the first bracket; a second bracket, wherein two ends ofthe second bracket are respectively pivoted to the first bracket andfixed to the auxiliary display; and a third bracket, wherein two ends ofthird bracket are respectively pivoted to the positioning member and thesecond bracket, when a locking relationship between the auxiliarydisplay and the host is removed, the driving member drives thepositioning member to move, meanwhile, the positioning member drives thethird bracket to rotate, and the second bracket is driven by the thirdbracket to rotate relative to the first bracket to lift the auxiliarydisplay, when the third bracket is engaged with the first bracketthrough the positioning member, the driving member stop moving and alifting height of the auxiliary display is maintained.